“The mixture of Roman, Greek, and Jewish elements admirably adapted Antioch for the great part it played in the early history of Christianity. The city was the cradle of the church”. ~ “Antioch,” Encyclopaedia Biblica, Vol. I

Going all the way back to our first volume of this series; what was Nimrods goal? “Bridle or control mankind completely with his path to the home and fortress of Anu by subtly strengthening a prolonged mixing or confusion of religion.”

Jews typically reject the term denomination as a label for different groups and ideologies within Judaism, commonly used terms are movements, branches, trends, streams, or even flavors of Judaism. The Jewish denominations themselves reject characterization as sects. Sects are traditionally defined as religious subgroups that have broken off from the main body, and this separation usually becomes irreparable over time. Within Judaism, individuals and families often switch affiliation, and individuals are free to marry one another, although the major denominations disagree on who is a Jew.

Although there are numerous Jewish ethnic communities, there are several that are large enough to be considered “predominant.” Ashkenazi Jews communities compose about 75% of the world’s Jewish population. Sephardi Jews and Mizrahi Jews compose the greatest part of the rest, with about 20% of the world’s Jewish population.

Ashkenazi Jews, are a Jewish diaspora population who coalesced as a distinct community in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium. The name Ashkenazi derives from the biblical figure of Ashkenaz, the first son of Gomer, son of Khaphet, son of Noah.

Religious Ashkenazi Jews living in Israel are obliged to follow the authority of the chief Ashkenazi rabbi in halakhic matters. In this respect, a religiously Ashkenazi Jew is an Israeli who is more likely to support certain religious interests in Israel, including certain political parties.

Sephardim are primarily the descendants of Jews from the Iberian Peninsula and can be divided into the families that left in the Expulsion of 1492. The Alhambra Decree (also known as the Edict of Expulsion) was an edict issued on 31 March 1492, by the joint Catholic Monarchs of Spain (Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon) ordering the expulsion of practicing Jews from the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon and its territories and possessions by July of that year.

The sad part of this story, we are told in our American school system that Columbus sailed the ocean blue in search of a new country for economic expansion. The truth is that he, along with hundreds of other Jews were looking for a place free of persecution for their faith under the Spanish Inquisition.

Religious Jews have Minhagim, or customs, in addition to Halakha, or religious law, and different interpretations of law. Different groups of religious Jews in different geographic areas historically adopted different customs and interpretations. On certain issues, Orthodox Jews are required to follow the customs of their ancestors, and do not believe they have the option of picking and choosing. For this reason, observant Jews at times find it important for religious reasons to ascertain who their household’s religious ancestors are in order to know what customs their household should follow.

We can see from these descriptions that Judaism, Christianity and paganism share the burden of Nimrod’s confusing and mixing of religious behavior. The Bible warns us of this insanity in several places:

John 4:23 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”

2 Peter 2:1-3 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

It has been reported that there are more than 23,000 different expressions of Judaism worldwide, only to be outdone by the more than 40,000 Protestant beliefs. This does not include the several different Catholic systems and the plethora of cult movements. It makes a person crazy trying to figure out what “flavor” of belief they prefer.

This is the point where you have to ask yourself, as I did, do I really believe what I profess as a faith?

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Based on this information I could not be a “Jew” if they do not accept Yeshua as Messiah. Likewise I could not be a Catholic as they believe the mediator is the Pope. Then there are the Protestants with the influence of Modalism, Marcionism, and Antinomianism and Dispensational theology dissecting the scriptures. Do I want that?

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

It appears from that scripture, I cannot dissect the scriptures, because we know from John 1:1 Yeshua IS the Scripture. Therefore I cannot be Protestant. What am I? What are you?

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Published by jontinymcpheron

First let me say that I am a mere human being that was born into a sinful nature and only by the grace of God almighty and the salvation found in Jesus Christ will I be found acceptable. I pray that you take my words as one weary travelers discoveries and that my intentions are not point fingers at any one denomination or belief system.
My life experience has shown me the detailed workings of the Protestant Church to include my participation in seminary and collegiate Bible training, the complete catechism of the Catholic Church and a review of the Quran. None of these were capable of answering many nagging questions concerning the scriptures.
After 40 years of "church life" I stopped following the crowds and began a study of the scriptures in the original Hebrew and Greek. Paralleling events in history with the scriptures and deciphering the effect of these events on the lives and theology of the believers.
I pray that the information provided here has a three fold effect: 1. provide truth not otherwise provided by the corporate church experience 2. Answer questions that others are either afraid to ask or afraid to answer, and last but not least, 3. bring people to a saving relationship and closer walk with YHVH.
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